Pressure-sensitive touch screen display and method

ABSTRACT

An electronic device includes a pressure-sensitive touch screen display that can dynamically monitor a user&#39;s interaction with the device, and adjust the pressure thresholds of different areas of the touch screen display based on the user&#39;s monitored interactions. The orientation of the device is determined, the touch screen display is divided into sections, and the device monitors the pressure the user applies in the different sections of the screen. A pressure map is then created that includes pressure detection thresholds specific to the orientation and user. One or more preferred regions of the screen are defined based on the pressure map. When a pressure-sensitive input is located in a less preferred screen region, the pressure-sensitive input may be relocated to a preferred screen region, or may be enlarged while remaining in the less preferred screen region to allow the user to more easily press on the pressure-sensitive input.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

This disclosure generally relates to electronic devices with touchscreen displays, and more specifically relates to devices with apressure-sensitive touch screen display.

2. Background Art

Users interact with electronic devices that have touch screen displays,such as smart phones, in different ways. Most people use their fingersor thumbs most of the time, while some use a stylus. Apple, Inc.introduced a touch screen display in the Apple 6 phones that ispressure-sensitive, meaning a light touch on a pressure-sensitivegraphic can cause a first action, a medium touch can cause a secondaction, and a heavy touch can cause a third action. Thispressure-sensitive touch screen display is supported in the iOS 9 andiOS 10 by Apple that runs on Apple devices, and is called 3D Touch byApple. 3D Touch is a trademark of Apple, Inc.

Different users use their devices in different manners. For example,some prefer to hold their phone in a portrait orientation, and scroll orselect items on the screen with the thumb of the hand that is holdingthe phone. Some prefer to hold their phone in a landscape orientation,and scroll and select items on the screen with the thumbs of both hands.Two-handed operation is often preferred for typing text, such as whentexting someone. Some prefer to use fingers instead of thumbs. Peoplealso use their devices in different orientations depending on theapplication they are using.

The different ways people use their devices may make using apressure-sensitive touch screen somewhat difficult for some users. Whata user intends to be a light touch could be interpreted as a mediumtouch. The orientation of the device comes into play, because a userholding a phone in portrait orientation in her right hand would likelyproduce different amounts of pressure depending on the location on thescreen being touched. Thus, the user holding the phone in her right handmight touch an item close to the right edge with much less force thanwhen touching an item in the middle or on the left edge of the screen.This is due to the anatomical features of a person's hands. Thus, a usermay touch an item on the right side of the screen intending a mediumtouch, but the device recognizes the touch as a light touch, which isnot what the user intended.

SUMMARY

An electronic device includes a pressure-sensitive touch screen displaythat can dynamically monitor a user's interaction with the device, andadjust the pressure thresholds of different areas of the touch screendisplay based on the user's monitored interactions. The orientation ofthe device is determined, the touch screen display is divided intosections, and the device monitors the pressure the user applies in thedifferent sections of the screen. A pressure map is then created thatincludes pressure detection thresholds specific to the orientation anduser. One or more preferred regions of the screen are defined based onthe pressure map. When a pressure-sensitive input is located in a lesspreferred screen region, the pressure-sensitive input may be relocatedto a preferred screen region, or may be enlarged while remaining in theless preferred screen region to allow the user to more easily press onthe pressure-sensitive input.

The foregoing and other features and advantages will be apparent fromthe following more particular description, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be described in conjunction with the appendeddrawings, where like designations denote like elements, and:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an electronic device that includes apressure-sensitive touch screen display;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method for detecting a user's actions on apressure-sensitive touch screen display;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of a method for creating a pressure map of apressure-sensitive touch screen display based on a user's use of thephone in a calibration mode;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a device in landscape orientation with thetouch screen display divided into multiple sections;

FIG. 5 is flow diagram of a method for creating or updating a pressuremap of a pressure-sensitive touch screen display based on monitored userinteraction with the pressure-sensitive touch screen display;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for using pressure detectionthresholds in the pressure map for one or more regions of the touchscreen display when a pressure-sensitive input on the touch screendisplay is selected by the user;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method for creating different pressuredetection thresholds based on contact area;

FIG. 8 is a table showing examples of pressure detection thresholds thatcan vary depending on the detected contact area on the touch screendisplay;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram of a method for defining one or more preferredscreen regions for pressure-sensitive inputs;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a device in landscape orientation with thetouch screen display having two preferred screen regions forpressure-sensitive inputs;

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a device in portrait orientation with thetouch screen display having one preferred screen region forpressure-sensitive inputs;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a pressure map with one or morepreferred regions and one or more less preferred regions;

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of a method for displaying pressure-sensitiveinputs in one or more preferred screen regions;

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram of a method for relocating pressure-sensitiveinputs to preferred screen region(s);

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a device in portrait orientation with anicon in a less preferred screen region;

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the device in FIG. 15 after relocating theicon to be inside the preferred screen region;

FIG. 17 is a flow diagram of a method for enlarging pressure-sensitiveinputs when displayed in less preferred screen region(s);

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a device in portrait orientation with anicon displayed in a less preferred screen region; and

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing the device in FIG. 18 after enlarging theicon in the less preferred screen region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure and claims herein relate to an electronic device thatincludes a pressure-sensitive touch screen display that can dynamicallymonitor a user's interaction with the device, and adjust the pressurethresholds of different areas of the touch screen display based on theuser's monitored interactions. The orientation of the device isdetermined, the touch screen display is divided into sections, and thedevice monitors the pressure the user applies in the different sectionsof the screen. A pressure map is then created that includes pressuredetection thresholds specific to the orientation and user. One or morepreferred regions of the screen are defined based on the pressure map.When a pressure-sensitive input is located in a less preferred screenregion, the pressure-sensitive input may be relocated to a preferredscreen region, or may be enlarged while remaining in the less preferredscreen region to allow the user to more easily press on thepressure-sensitive input.

Referring to FIG. 1, a device 100 represents any suitable type ofelectronic device, including without limitation a smart phone, tabletcomputer, electronic book reader, notebook computer, laptop computer,gaming console, smart watch, etc. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that the disclosure herein applies equally to any type ofelectronic device. As shown in FIG. 1, a device 100 comprises one ormore processors 110, a main memory 120, an external storage interface130, a network interface 150, and a touch screen display 180. Thesesystem components are interconnected through the use of a system bus160. External storage interface 130 is used to access external memory.One specific type of external memory 155 is non-volatile memory on anexternal device, such as an SD card, a micro-SD card, or a thumb drive.

Main memory 120 preferably contains data 121, an operating system 122,an orientation mechanism 123, and a pressure-sensitive interfacemechanism 124. Data 121 represents any data that serves as input to oroutput from any program in device 100. Operating system 122 could be anysuitable operating system for an electronic device. Known operatingsystems for electronic devices include the iOS operating systemdeveloped by Apple, Inc., the Android operating system developed byGoogle, and the Windows operating system developed by Microsoft.

The orientation mechanism 123 allows the device 100 to determine itsphysical orientation in space. Known devices include one or moreaccelerometers that communicate with an orientation mechanism 123 andthus allow determining the device's physical orientation in space,meaning both physical location and angle or direction of the device atthat physical location. One such use of a device's orientation mechanism123 is to rotate the screen when the orientation of the screen is movedby a user from portrait to landscape position, and vice versa.Orientation mechanism 123 is well-known in the art of electronicdevices, and therefore is not discussed in more detail here.

Touch screen display 180 is a display that allows the user to selectfunctions on the device 100 by touching displayed items on the touchscreen display 180. The touch screen display 180 includes apressure-sensitive interface 182. The pressure-sensitive interface 182allows the touch screen display 180 to detect multiple pressure levelsfor a user selection on the touch screen. Any suitable number ofpressure levels could be detected by the pressure-sensitive interface182. In one suitable example, the pressure-sensitive interface 182 candistinguish between three different pressure levels, denoted herein as alight touch, a medium touch, and a heavy touch. Of course, any suitablenumber of pressure levels could be detected by the pressure-sensitiveinterface 182 within the scope of the disclosure and claims herein.

The pressure-sensitive interface mechanism 124 is software thatinteracts with the pressure-sensitive interface 182 on the touch screendisplay 180 to detect the pressure applied to the pressure-sensitiveinterface, and what actions to perform based on the detected pressure.The pressure-sensitive interface mechanism 124 includes a pressuredetection mechanism 125, a calibration mechanism 126, a usage monitormechanism 127, and a pressure mapping mechanism 128. The pressuredetection mechanism 125 interacts with the pressure-sensitive interface182 to determine the pressure applied when a user selects an itemdisplayed on the touch screen display 180. The calibration mechanism 126is an optional mechanism that allows calibrating the pressure-sensitiveinterface mechanism 124 for a particular user. The usage monitormechanism 127 monitors how a user uses the device 100, and allows thepressure-sensitive interface mechanism 125 to dynamically make changesbased on the monitored usage. The pressure mapping mechanism 128 createsone or more pressure maps 129 that include multiple pressure thresholdsfor different sections or regions of the touch screen display 180, asdescribed in more detail below. In addition, each pressure map maydefine one or more preferred screen regions and one or more lesspreferred screen regions.

Main memory 120 may include any suitable combination of different memorytypes. For example, main memory 120 could include dynamic random accessmemory (DRAM) that has a relatively small size and a fast access timeand could also include non-volatile memory (NVRAM) that has a muchlarger size and a slower access time. Programs stored in NVRAM couldthen be loaded into the DRAM in order to be executed by the processor110. This simple example shows the main memory 120 can include anysuitable number and type of memories in any suitable hierarchy, whethercurrently known or developed in the future.

Processor 110 may be constructed from one or more microprocessors and/orintegrated circuits. Processor 110 executes program instructions storedin main memory 120. Main memory 120 stores programs and data thatprocessor 110 may access. When computer system 100 starts up, processor110 initially executes the program instructions that make up operatingsystem 122. Processor 110 also executes the orientation mechanism 123and pressure-sensitive interface mechanism 124 under the control of theoperating system 122.

Although device 100 is shown to contain only a single processor and asingle system bus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that apressure-sensitive interface mechanism may be practiced using a devicethat has multiple processors and/or multiple buses. In addition, theinterfaces that are used preferably each include separate, fullyprogrammed microprocessors that are used to off-load compute-intensiveprocessing from processor 110. However, those skilled in the art willappreciate that these functions may be performed using I/O adapters aswell.

Network interface 150 is used to connect device 100 to a network 170.Network interface 150 broadly represents any suitable way tointerconnect electronic devices, such as device 100, to other devices175, regardless of whether the network 170 comprises present-day analogand/or digital techniques or via some networking mechanism of thefuture. Network interface 150 preferably includes a combination ofhardware and software that allow communicating on the network 170. Thenetwork interface 150 can include multiple different network interfaces.For example, network interface 150 could include a wireless interfacefor communicating with a 4G network, a WiFi interface for communicatingwith a WiFi network, and a Bluetooth interface for communicating withother devices via Bluetooth. Many different network protocols can beused to implement a network. These protocols are specialized computerprograms that allow computers to communicate across a network. TCP/IP(Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is an example of asuitable network protocol that may be used by the communication managerwithin the network interface 150.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

Referring to FIG. 2, a method 200 is representative of the function ofthe 3D Touch interface by Apple, Inc. Method 200 assumes a touch screenwith pressure-sensitive interface is part of the device. Actionscorresponding to multiple pressure levels are defined (step 210). Apressure level for each action is detected (step 220), and an actioncorresponding to a detected pressure level is performed (step 230). Notethat method 200 defines actions that correspond to multiple pressurelevels in step 210, but each of these multiple pressure levels is thesame across the entire touch screen display. Thus, a light touch isdefined by the touch screen display as being a touch anywhere on thetouch screen display that is less than a first pressure detectionthreshold. A medium touch is defined as being a touch anywhere on thetouch screen display that is greater than the first pressure detectionthreshold but less than a second pressure detection threshold. A heavytouch is defined as being a touch anywhere on the touch screen displaythat is greater than the second pressure detection threshold. Thepressure detection thresholds are thus the same across the entiresurface of the touch screen display. As discussed in the Backgroundsection above, a user may apply different pressures to differentportions of the screen based on the orientation of the device andwhether the user uses a stylus, finger or thumb to select an item on thetouch screen display. Thus, a user may have to concentrate on applyingthe correct amount of pressure in different regions of the screen.

The disclosure and claims herein reduce the issues that arise from usersapplying different pressures to different areas of a touch screendisplay while intending to apply similar pressure. Referring to FIG. 3,a method 300 is preferably performed by the pressure-sensitive interfacemechanism 124 shown in FIG. 1. Method 300 begins by entering acalibration mode (step 310). The calibration mode, represented by steps320-390 in FIG. 3, are preferably performed under control of thecalibration mechanism 126 shown in FIG. 1. The user is prompted to putthe device in a specified orientation (step 320). Examples of specifiedorientation include portrait mode where the longest portion of thedevice is running up and down, and landscape mode where the longestportion of the device is running side to side. Of course, otherorientations are also possible, such as any suitable position betweenportrait mode and landscape mode. In addition, the orientations mayinclude the angle at which the user holds the device. In the mostpreferred implementation, when the user is prompted in step 320 to placethe device in portrait orientation, for example, the user will hold thedevice in portrait orientation at the angle the user prefers. Note thatonce the user is prompted to put the device in a specified orientation,method 300 then proceeds to step 330 once the orientation mechanism 123in FIG. 1 detects the device is in the specified orientation.

With the device in the specified orientation, the screen on the touchscreen display is then divided into sections (step 330). Any suitablegeometrical shape of sections could be used, including squares,triangles, rectangles, polygons, etc. In the most preferredimplementation, the screen is divided up into a grid of square orrectangular sections in step 330. A section is selected (step 340). Atest icon is displayed in the selected section (step 350). The user isthen prompted to apply a specified pressure level to the displayed testicon (step 360). Examples of specified pressure levels could includelight, medium and heavy. However, the disclosure and claims hereinextend to any suitable number of pressure levels. The user then appliesthe specified pressure level to the test icon, and the pressure isdetected and logged (step 370) by the pressure detection mechanism 125shown in FIG. 1. When there are more sections or pressures to test (step380=YES), method 300 loops back to step 340 and continues. In theexample where there are three different pressure levels, light, mediumand heavy, a section will be selected in step 340, the user is promptedto apply light pressure to the displayed test icon in step 360, thepressure is detected and logged in step 370, then method 300 loops backand repeats steps 340-380 while prompting the user to apply mediumpressure, then method 300 loops back and repeats steps 340-380 whileprompting the user to apply heavy pressure. Method 300 then loops backand selects the next section to test, and repeats the three-pass processto log the three pressure levels for the next section, and so on. In themost preferred implementation, the calibration mode logs all definedpressure levels for all sections of the touch screen display during thecalibration mode. Note, however, that less than all the definedpressures in less than all the defined sections could also be tested andlogged in calibration mode. When there are no more sections or pressuresto test (step 380=NO), a pressure map is created that maps each sectionof the screen with corresponding pressure detection thresholds based onthe logged pressure data (step 390). The creation of the pressure map instep 390 is preferably performed by the pressure mapping mechanism 128creating one or more pressure maps 129 shown in FIG. 1. Method 300 isthen done.

The steps in method 300 in FIG. 3 could be repeated for each orientationof the device. This would result in multiple sections of the touchscreen display that have a first set of pressure thresholds in oneorientation, and a second set of pressure thresholds in a differentorientation. Of course, the number and shape of the sections could varybetween the different variations. Thus, a landscape orientation as shownin FIG. 4 could have a grid of squares as shown, while a portraitorientation could have an array of much larger hexagons. Any suitablecombination of orientations, section size, and section shape may be usedwithin the scope of the disclosure and claims herein.

FIG. 4 shows one suitable example of an electronic device 100 with atouch screen display 180 that is divided into sections, as discussed instep 330 in FIG. 3. Each section is represented by a square in the gridshown in FIG. 4. In the most preferred implementation, each section ofthe touch screen display could have its own pressure detectionthresholds. However, it is equally within the scope of the disclosureand claims herein to have multiple sections of the touch screen displayshare common pressure detection thresholds. In addition, the shape andnumber of sections may vary within the scope of the disclosure andclaims herein.

Referring to FIG. 5, a method 500 is preferably performed once the useris using the device day to day. The orientation of the device isdetected (step 510). The screen is divided into sections (step 520). Theuser interaction with the screen is monitored (step 530). Monitoring theuser interaction with the screen is preferably performed by the usagemonitor mechanism 127 shown in FIG. 1. Next, detect when the pressuredetection was incorrect (step 540). For example, when the user selects apressure-sensitive item, then goes back or selects the item again with adifferent pressure, this is an indication the pressure detection wasincorrect in the first instance. A pressure map is then created whereeach section of the screen is mapped with corresponding pressuredetection thresholds (step 550). The pressure map is preferably createdby the pressure mapping mechanism 128 shown in FIG. 1.

In a first preferred implementation, method 500 in FIG. 5 is performedafter the calibration in method 300 in FIG. 3 is performed. In thiscase, the screen sections in step 520 will correspond to the screensections defined in step 330. In other words, the calibration method 300shown in FIG. 3 can initially define multiple pressure detectionthresholds for multiple screen sections, then method 500 cancontinuously monitor the user's usage of the device and dynamicallyupdate any of the pressure detection thresholds for any of the screensections, as needed.

In a second preferred implementation, method 500 in FIG. 5 is performedwithout performing the calibration in method 300 in FIG. 3. When this isthe case, we assume each of the screen sections have the same multiplepressure detection thresholds to start. Then as the user's usage ismonitored in method 500, one or more of these pressure detectionthresholds is adjusted to better match the user's usage of the device.

Once one or more pressure maps are created, either in step 390 in FIG. 3and/or in step 550 in FIG. 5, the user's actions on the touch screendisplay may then be interpreted according to the pressure map(s).Referring to FIG. 6, a method 600 is preferably performed by thepressure-sensitive interface mechanism 124 shown in FIG. 1. Theorientation of the device is determined (step 610). The pressure by auser on a pressure-sensitive input displayed on the touch screen displayis then detected (step 620). From the pressure map for the detectedorientation, pressure detection thresholds for one or more regions wherethe pressure-sensitive input was selected are determined (step 630).Note the term “region” as used herein may include one or more sectionsof the touch screen display. For example, an icon selected by the usercould span multiple sections of the touch screen display, which togethercomprise the region of the touch screen display touched by the user. Thedetected pressure is then compared to the pressure detection thresholdsfor the region(s) where the pressure-sensitive input was selected (step640). Action is then taken based on the detected pressure and theapplicable pressure detection thresholds (step 650). A simple examplewill illustrate. We assume the device is in a portrait orientation,which is detected in step 610. An icon is displayed on the touch screendisplay that is contained within a single section of the screen, whichwe arbitrarily name S5. Step 620 detects the pressure the user uses whenthe user touches the icon in section S5. Next, the pressure map for theportrait orientation is consulted in step 630 to determine theappropriate pressure detection thresholds for section S5 of the touchscreen display. For this example, we assume a light touch is defined asa pressure less than P1, a medium touch is defined as a pressure betweenP1 and P2, and a heavy touch is defined as a pressure greater than P2.We now compare the detected pressure to these three pressure detectionthresholds P1, P2 and P3 for section S5. For this simple example, weassume the detected pressure is between P1 and P2 in step 640, whichcorresponds to a medium touch. Action is then taken in step 650 based onthe medium touch by the user. Note the example above is extremelysimplified for the purpose of illustration. However, one skilled in theart will recognize that many different examples and variations arepossible within the scope of the disclosure and claims herein.

In addition to detecting when a user selects a pressure-sensitive inputon the touch screen display, it is also possible to detect how the userselected the pressure-sensitive input based on the contact area on thetouch screen display. Referring to FIG. 7, method 700 is preferablyperformed by the pressure-sensitive interface mechanism 124 shown inFIG. 1. The contact area and applied pressure of a user selection isdetermined (step 710). Each section of the screen can then be mappedwith corresponding pressure detection thresholds corresponding to thecontact area (step 720). Method 700 is then done.

One specific example to illustrate the principles in method 700 is shownin the table in FIG. 8. We assume a small contact area corresponds towhen the user uses a stylus; a medium contact area corresponds to whenthe user uses a finger; and a large contact area corresponds to when theuser uses a thumb. With these three different contact areas, it is nowpossible to define a pressure map that includes pressure detectionthresholds for each of these contact areas. For the simple example shownin FIG. 8, we assume Section 1-1 defines a lower threshold Pressure A, amedium threshold Pressure B, and an upper threshold Pressure C. Thevalues of these thresholds can vary according to contact area. Thus,Pressure A for Section 1-1 in FIG. 8 is P1 for the small contact area,P1′ for the medium contact area, and P1″ for the large contact area. Insimilar fashion, Pressures B and C for Section 1-1 each havecorresponding pressures for the three different contact areas.Similarly, nine separate pressure detection thresholds could be definedfor each of the other sections on the touch screen display as a functionof contact area. The result is a pressure map that has a finergranularity due to taking contact area into account. Thus, the pressurea user applies using a stylus can be different than the pressure theuser applies using a thumb while still providing the same functionalityaccording to the user's usage of the device and the detected contactarea.

Once a pressure map is defined, it is possible to determine one or morepreferred screen regions for displaying pressure-sensitive inputs.Referring to FIG. 9, a method 900 begins by selecting an orientation(step 910), then for the selected orientation, defining from thepressure map one or more preferred screen regions for pressure-sensitiveinputs (step 920). When there are more orientations (step 930=YES),method 900 loops back to step 910 and continues until there are no moreorientations (step 930=NO). Method 900 is then done.

FIG. 10 shows an example of device 100 in landscape orientation with atouch screen display 180 that includes two preferred screen regions, asshown by the shaded screen sections in FIG. 10. We assume for thisexample all screen sections that are not shaded are in the lesspreferred screen region. FIG. 11 shows an example of device 100 thatincludes one preferred screen region in portrait orientation, as shownby the shaded screen sections in FIG. 11. We assume for this example allscreen sections that are not shaded are in the less preferred screenregion.

FIG. 12 shows one suitable example of a pressure map 1200 that is onesuitable implementation for the pressure map 129 shown in FIG. 1.Pressure map 1200 includes a location/pressure map 1210 that correlatesscreen sections to corresponding pressure thresholds, as discussed indetail above. Pressure map 1200 further defines one or more preferredregions 1220, and one or more less preferred regions 1230. The preferredregion(s) 1220 and less preferred region(s) 1230 are preferably definedto include one or more screen sections. Thus, as shown in FIG. 10, thetwo shaded preferred regions are each made up of nine screen sections.As shown in FIG. 11, the shaded preferred region is made up of sixteenscreen sections. With preferred regions 1220 and less preferred regions1230 defined, the pressure-sensitive interface mechanism can performfunctions depending on whether a pressure-sensitive input is locatedwithin the preferred region(s) 1220 or within the less preferredregion(s) 1230, as discussed in more detail below.

Referring to FIG. 13, a method 1300 begins by detecting orientation ofthe device (step 1310). Pressure-sensitive inputs are displayed in thepreferred screen region(s) for the detected orientation (step 1320). Aspecific example for method 1300 is method 1400 shown in FIG. 14. Theorientation of the device is detected (step 1410). The desired locationfor pressure-sensitive inputs is then received from software thatdesires to display on the touch screen display. The software can be anysuitable software, including operating system software, middleware, orapplication software, including games. When the desired location is inone or more less preferred screen regions (step 1430=YES), thepressure-sensitive inputs in the less preferred screen region(s) arerelocated to preferred screen regions (step 1440). When the desiredlocation for the pressure-sensitive inputs are in the preferred screenregions (step 1430=NO), no relocation is needed, and method 1400 isdone. Method 1400 allows relocating pressure-sensitive inputs from aless preferred screen region to a preferred screen region, therebyenhancing the ability of the user to apply the proper pressure to thepressure-sensitive inputs.

An example of method 1400 in FIG. 14 is shown in FIGS. 15 and 16. Weassume software has a desired location for icon 1510 that is outside theshaded preferred screen region, as shown in FIG. 15. In response, theicon 1510 is relocated to be within the shaded preferred screen region,as shown in FIG. 16. Note the icon 1510 shown in FIG. 15 is not actuallydisplayed to the user, but its desired location is represented in FIG.15 to illustrate the relocation of the icon from the desired location inthe less preferred region indicated by the software and shown in FIG. 15to a different location in FIG. 16 that is within the preferred screenregion and that is displayed to the user.

Referring to FIG. 17, a method 1700 provides an alternative torelocating a pressure-sensitive input when located in a less preferredscreen region. The orientation of the device is detected (step 1710).The desired location for the pressure-sensitive inputs on the touchscreen display are received (step 1720), preferably from software. Whenthe desired location is in one or more of the less preferred screenregions (step 1730=YES), the pressure-sensitive inputs in the lesspreferred screen regions are enlarged (step 1740) to make them larger,and therefore easier to apply the required pressure to. When the desiredlocation is in the preferred screen region(s) (step 1730=NO), noadjustment to the size or location of the pressure-sensitive input isneeded. Method 1700 is then done.

An example of method 1700 in FIG. 17 is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. Weassume software has a desired location for icon 1510 that is outside theshaded preferred screen region, as shown in FIG. 18. In response, theicon 1510 is enlarged in the less preferred screen region, as shown at1910 in FIG. 19. Note the icon 1510 shown in FIG. 18 is not actuallydisplayed to the user, but its desired location is represented in FIG.15 to illustrate the enlargement of the icon in the desired location inthe less preferred region as shown in FIG. 19.

The examples discussed above assume a pressure-sensitive input is eitherinside the preferred region(s), or outside the preferred region(s) inthe less preferred region(s). Note, however, the principles above can beapplied when pressure-sensitive inputs are partially within a preferredregion and partially within a less preferred region. For example, thepressure-sensitive interface mechanism 124 could deem that anypressure-sensitive input that is partially within a less preferredregion needs to be moved to be completely within the preferredregion(s). In another example, the pressure-sensitive interfacemechanism 124 could function according to specified thresholds, such asa percentage. Thus, a pressure-sensitive input that is more than 20%within the less preferred region(s) could be relocated to be completelywithin the preferred regions, or could be relocated to be at least 90%within the preferred region(s). One skilled in the art will appreciatethe disclosure and claims herein extend to any suitable threshold,algorithm or heuristic for determining when a pressure-sensitive inputneeds to be relocated or enlarged.

An electronic device includes a pressure-sensitive touch screen displaythat can dynamically monitor a user's interaction with the device, andadjust the pressure thresholds of different areas of the touch screendisplay based on the user's monitored interactions. The orientation ofthe device is determined, the touch screen display is divided intosections, and the device monitors the pressure the user applies in thedifferent sections of the screen. A pressure map is then created thatincludes pressure detection thresholds specific to the orientation anduser. One or more preferred regions of the screen are defined based onthe pressure map. When a pressure-sensitive input is located in a lesspreferred screen region, the pressure-sensitive input may be relocatedto a preferred screen region, or may be enlarged while remaining in theless preferred screen region to allow the user to more easily press onthe pressure-sensitive input.

One skilled in the art will appreciate that many variations are possiblewithin the scope of the claims. Thus, while the disclosure isparticularly shown and described above, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that these and other changes in form and details maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theclaims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: at leastone processor; a memory coupled to the at least one processor; a touchscreen display coupled to the at least one processor, the touch screendisplay comprising a pressure-sensitive interface that is capable ofdetecting a plurality of pressures when a user touches a displayed itemon the touch screen display and interpreting each of the plurality ofpressures as a different action with respect to the displayed item; apressure map of the touch screen display that defines a plurality ofpressure thresholds for each of a plurality of sections of the touchscreen display, wherein a first pressure threshold for a first of theplurality of sections corresponds to a first action when the usertouches the displayed item in the first section with a first pressure,and a second pressure threshold for the first section corresponds to asecond action when the user touches the displayed item in the firstsection with a second pressure; and a pressure-sensitive interfacemechanism residing in the memory and executed by the at least oneprocessor, the pressure-sensitive interface mechanism monitoring userinteraction with the touch screen display, and updating at least one ofthe plurality of pressure thresholds in the pressure map based on theuser interaction with the touch screen display.
 2. The electronic deviceof claim 1 further comprising: an orientation mechanism that determinesphysical orientation of the electronic device, wherein the pressure mapis for a first orientation defined by the orientation mechanism, whereinthe pressure map comprises the first plurality of pressure thresholdsfor the plurality of sections of the touch screen display in the firstorientation.
 3. An electronic device comprising: at least one processor;a memory coupled to the at least one processor; a touch screen displaycoupled to the at least one processor, the touch screen displaycomprising a pressure-sensitive interface that is capable of detecting aplurality of pressures when a user touches a displayed item on the touchscreen display and interpreting each of the plurality of pressures as adifferent action with respect to the displayed item; and apressure-sensitive interface mechanism residing in the memory andexecuted by the at least one processor, the pressure-sensitive interfacemechanism performing a calibration of the touch screen display by: (a)prompting the user to put the electronic device in a first orientation;(b) dividing the touch screen display into the plurality of sections;(c) selecting one of the plurality of sections; (d) displaying a testicon in the selected one section; (e) prompting the user to apply aspecified pressure level to the displayed test icon; (f) detecting andlogging the pressure applied by the user to the displayed test icon; (g)repeating steps (c) through (f) for each of the plurality of pressurethresholds in each of the plurality of sections; and (h) constructing apressure map for the first orientation using the data detected andlogged in step (f).
 4. The electronic device of claim 3 furthercomprising: an orientation mechanism that determines physicalorientation of the electronic device, wherein the pressure map is forthe first orientation determined by the orientation mechanism, whereinthe pressure map comprises a plurality of pressure thresholds for eachof the plurality of sections of the touch screen display in the firstorientation.
 5. A method for a user to interact with an electronicdevice comprising: providing a touch screen display on the electronicdevice that comprises a pressure-sensitive interface that is capable ofdetecting a plurality of pressures when a user selects a displayed itemon the touch screen display and interpreting each of the plurality ofpressures as a different action with respect to the displayed item;providing a pressure map of the touch screen display that defines aplurality of pressure thresholds for each of a plurality of sections ofthe touch screen display, wherein a first pressure threshold for a firstof the plurality of sections corresponds to a first action when the usertouches the displayed item in the first section with a first pressure,and a second pressure threshold for the first section corresponds to asecond action when the user touches the displayed item in the firstsection with a second pressure; monitoring user interaction with thetouch screen display; and updating at least one of the plurality ofpressure thresholds in the pressure map based on the user interactionwith the touch screen display.
 6. The method of claim 5 furthercomprising: determining physical orientation of the electronic device;wherein the pressure map is for a first orientation of the electronicdevice, wherein the pressure map comprises the first plurality ofpressure thresholds for the plurality of sections of the touch screendisplay in the first orientation.
 7. A method for a user to interactwith an electronic device comprising: providing a touch screen displayon the electronic device that comprises a pressure-sensitive interfacethat is capable of detecting a plurality of pressures when a userselects a displayed item on the touch screen display and interpretingeach of the plurality of pressures as a different action with respect tothe displayed item; and performing a calibration of the touch screendisplay by: (a) prompting the user to put the electronic device in afirst orientation; (b) dividing the touch screen display into theplurality of sections; (c) selecting one of the plurality of sections;(d) displaying a test icon in the selected one section; (e) promptingthe user to apply a specified pressure level to the displayed test icon;(f) detecting and logging the pressure applied by the user to thedisplayed test icon; (g) repeating steps (c) through (f) for each of theplurality of pressure thresholds in each of the plurality of sections;and (h) constructing a pressure map for the first orientation using thedata detected and logged in step (f).
 8. The method of claim 7 furthercomprising: determining physical orientation of the electronic device;wherein the pressure map is for the first orientation determined by theorientation mechanism, wherein the pressure map comprises a plurality ofpressure thresholds for each of the plurality of sections of the touchscreen display in the first orientation.
 9. The electronic device ofclaim 1 wherein the monitoring user interaction with the touch screendisplay by the pressure-sensitive interface mechanism comprisesdetecting when pressure detection was incorrect based on the userinteraction with the touch screen display.
 10. The electronic device ofclaim 1 wherein the pressure-sensitive interface mechanism performs acalibration of the touch screen display by: (a) prompting the user toput the electronic device in a first orientation; (b) dividing the touchscreen display into the plurality of sections; (c) selecting one of theplurality of sections; (d) displaying a test icon in the selected onesection; (e) prompting the user to apply a specified pressure level tothe displayed test icon; (f) detecting and logging the pressure appliedby the user to the displayed test icon; (g) repeating steps (c) through(f) for each of the plurality of pressure thresholds in each of theplurality of sections; and (h) constructing a pressure map for the firstorientation using the data detected and logged in step (f).
 11. Theelectronic device of claim 10 wherein the pressure-sensitive interfacemechanism prompts the user to put the electronic device in a secondorientation, performs steps (b) through (g), and constructs a pressuremap for the second orientation using the data detected and logged duringstep (f) in the second orientation.
 12. The electronic device of claim10 further comprising a plurality of pressure maps, wherein theplurality of pressure maps comprises: a first pressure map that definesfor the first orientation of the electronic device pressure thresholdsfor each of the plurality of sections when the user uses a stylus; asecond pressure map that defines for a second orientation of theelectronic device pressure thresholds for each of the plurality ofsections when the user uses a stylus; a third pressure map that definesfor the first orientation pressure thresholds for each of the pluralityof sections when the user uses a finger; and a fourth pressure map thatdefines for the second orientation pressure thresholds for each of theplurality of sections when the user uses a finger.
 13. The electronicdevice of claim 12 wherein the plurality of pressure maps furthercomprises: a fifth pressure map that defines for the first orientationpressure thresholds for each of the plurality of sections when the useruses a thumb; and a sixth pressure map that defines for the secondorientation pressure thresholds for each of the plurality of sectionswhen the user uses a thumb.
 14. The electronic device of claim 13wherein the pressure-sensitive interface mechanism detects when the useruses the stylus, finger or thumb based on detecting contact area withthe touch screen display, and uses one of the first, second, third,fourth, fifth and sixth pressure maps that corresponds to the detectedstylus, finger or thumb and the detected orientation of the electronicdevice.
 15. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the pressure mapdefines a preferred region of the touch screen display for display ofpressure-sensitive inputs and a less preferred region of the touchscreen display for display of the pressure-sensitive inputs, thepressure-sensitive interface mechanism determining when a firstpressure-sensitive input is located in the less preferred region of thetouch screen display, and in response, the pressure-sensitive interfacemechanism relocates the first pressure-sensitive input from the lesspreferred region of the touch screen display to the preferred region ofthe touch screen display.
 16. The electronic device of claim 3 whereinthe pressure map for the first orientation comprises: for each of theplurality of sections, a plurality of pressure thresholds correspondingto a plurality of actions.
 17. The method of claim 5 wherein themonitoring user interaction with the touch screen display comprisesdetecting when pressure detection was incorrect based on the userinteraction with the touch screen display.
 18. The method of claim 5further comprising performing a calibration of the touch screen displayby: (a) prompting the user to put the electronic device in a firstorientation; (b) dividing the touch screen display into the plurality ofsections; (c) selecting one of the plurality of sections; (d) displayinga test icon in the selected one section; (e) prompting the user to applya specified pressure level to the displayed test icon; (f) detecting andlogging the pressure applied by the user to the displayed test icon; (g)repeating steps (c) through (f) for each of the plurality of pressurethresholds in each of the plurality of sections; and (h) constructing apressure map for the first orientation using the data detected andlogged in step (f).
 19. The method of claim 18 further comprisingprompting the user to put the electronic device in a second orientation,performing steps (b) through (g), and constructing a pressure map forthe second orientation using the data detected and logged during step(f) in the second orientation.
 20. The method of claim 18 wherein thecalibration of the touch screen display creates a plurality of pressuremaps, wherein the plurality of pressure maps comprises: a first pressuremap that defines for the first orientation of the electronic devicepressure thresholds for each of the plurality of sections when the useruses a stylus; a second pressure map that defines for a secondorientation of the electronic device pressure thresholds for each of theplurality of sections when the user uses a stylus; a third pressure mapthat defines for the first orientation pressure thresholds for each ofthe plurality of sections when the user uses a finger; and a fourthpressure map that defines for the second orientation pressure thresholdsfor each of the plurality of sections when the user uses a finger. 21.The method of claim 20 wherein the plurality of pressure maps furthercomprises: a fifth pressure map that defines for the first orientationpressure thresholds for each of the plurality of sections when the useruses a thumb; and a sixth pressure map that defines for the secondorientation pressure thresholds for each of the plurality of sectionswhen the user uses a thumb.
 22. The method of claim 21 furthercomprising detecting when the user uses the stylus, finger or thumbbased on detecting contact area with the touch screen display, and usingone of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth pressure mapsthat corresponds to the detected stylus, finger or thumb and thedetected orientation of the electronic device.
 23. The method of claim 5wherein the pressure map defines a preferred region of the touch screendisplay for display of pressure-sensitive inputs and a less preferredregion of the touch screen display for display of the pressure-sensitiveinputs, the method further comprising: determining when a firstpressure-sensitive input is located in the less preferred region of thetouch screen display; and in response, relocating the firstpressure-sensitive input from the less preferred region of the touchscreen display to the preferred region of the touch screen display. 24.The method of claim 7 wherein the pressure map for the first orientationcomprises: for each of the plurality of sections, a plurality ofpressure thresholds corresponding to a plurality of actions.